[3.5] A Dark and Stormy Night

It's a dark and stormy night. You and your adventuring companions are nestled comfortably inside the Inn of the Welcome Wench, along with a dozen or so locals, not including the inn's staff. Ostler Gundigoot keeps his staff hopping, ensuring mugs stay full and the spiced mutton stew stays hot. The aromas of the stew, fresh-baked breads, and strong ale mingles with the less pleasant smells from the hard-working locals.

Outside the storm pounds the village with rain and driving winds. Flashes of lightning white out the smoky glass windows. Claps of thunder rattle the doors.

"We ain't seen a storm like this in years," says Goodie Gundigoot as she sets a fresh plate of greens on your table. "My mother -- Pelor rest her soul -- called this sort of storm a devil's roar." The elderly, kind-faced matron laughs at the memory, but her laughs turns abruptly to a startled yell as an injured, drenched man staggers into the inn.

Blood and rain water pool on the floor around his feet.

Just as he is about to speak, a bony figure lunges into the inn, tackling the man to the floor. There is a sickening crunch! as the bony attacker bites through the back of the injured man's skull!

Patrons scream and scuttle away, knocking over chairs, upsetting dishes. The bony figure squats on the man's back, raises its nearly bald head, and croaks in a voice choked with grave dirt, "In...fant!"

OOC

Yes, a zombie has just tackled and bit through a man's skull. All four PCs are seated at the same table about 30 feet away from the entrance. The inn's main room is cluttered with tables, chairs, people, and wooden columns supporting the ceiling. Charging isn't possible.

Xenon

"Shame, why do something like this always happens to us?" Xenon says shocked, taking a step back. Something like this? Something like this never happened before!
But he is concentrated enough to materialize his mindblade and readies his shield.
With only faked bravado, he looks at the others, but his fears slow his reaction.

His senses dulled by the strong ale and the hearty meal, Norim stares in disbelief as the creature bites the helpless man's head off. After several long seconds his brain nudges him to action. Even though the creature is clearly very dangerous, his first priority is to protect the innocents. After all, that is what he was trained to do in the army.

Everyone get back! he shouts as he rises from the table and pulls his longsword out, ready to defend the townspeople.

Tetsuko

Appearing somewhat drowsy from the potent combination of good food and ale, the young woman known as Tetsuko seems to shake it off rather quickly as the man and his monstrous attacker burst into the room. Hopping to her feet, she picks up her staff from where she'd leaned it against the table, then sweeps her free arm to the side, her eyes sharply focused.

Those whose attentions are not utterly captured by the gruesome attack may notice a faint sound, like that of a small bell ringing, emanating from near the young woman without any obvious source, followed immediately by a brief distortion in the air in front of her.

Slowly, but deliberately, she advances, trying to put herself between the creature and the other tavern-goers, while still maintaining some distance.

Battle of the Welcome Wench (Round 1)

Gordon reacts with speed, standing tall in his chair as he throws an orb of fire. The flaming missile crackles as it strikes the squatting zombie full in the chest. In an instant, the rancid stench of charred flesh and bone fills the air as the orb burns a melon-sized whole clear through the zombie's torso.

"Urk!" the zombie grunts before falling across its victim.

Several patrons scream. The crowd surges away from the door. One man dives over the bar. Goody Gundigoot backs away, yelling, "Into the kitchen or up the stairs!" The panicked patrons rush pell-mell, knocking over more furniture, colliding with each other.

Appearing somewhat drowsy from the potent combination of good food and ale, the young woman known as Tetsuko seems to shake it off rather quickly as the man and his monstrous attacker burst into the room. Hopping to her feet, she picks up her staff from where she'd leaned it against the table, then sweeps her free arm to the side, her eyes sharply focused. Those whose attentions are not utterly captured by the gruesome attack may notice a faint sound, like that of a small bell ringing, emanating from near the young woman without any obvious source, followed immediately by a brief distortion in the air in front of her. Slowly, but deliberately, she advances, trying to put herself between the creature and the other tavern-goers, while still maintaining some distance.

Xenon materializes his mindblade and readies his shield as two more zombies lurch through the doorway and into the inn. They stagger stiff-legged, milky white eyes lolling in their decayed faces. After only the briefest pause, the unholy creatures lumber toward Tetsuko, their progress impeded by a few scattered chairs.

His senses dulled by the strong ale and the hearty meal, Norim stares in disbelief as the creature bites the helpless man's head off. After several long seconds his brain nudges him to action. Even though the creature is clearly very dangerous, his first priority is to protect the innocents. After all, that is what he was trained to do in the army.

"Everyone get back!" he shouts as he rises from the table and pulls his longsword out, ready to defend the townspeople.

From the behind the bar to our heroes' right, Gundigoot echoes Norim's command, "Aye, everyone! Away from the door!" A quick glance in his direction sees the portly, aged ostler loading a heavy crossbow, which is more than enough to remind everyone present that only is Gundigoot the Welcome Wench's owner, he is also the sergeant of Hommlet's militia.

One zombie is dead. Two zombies are in melee range with Tetsuko. They both threaten her. Gordon is about ten feet away on the other side of the table. Norim is a 5-foot step away from the closest zombie. Xenon is a 5-foot step away from the other zombie.

Tetsuko

'What to do...what to do...'

Realizing a bit belatedly that her best means of attack, a mental assault that would wreck havoc on a mortal foe's psyche but caused no physical damage, was all but useless against a creature already dead, Tetsuko is somewhat hesitant to provoke the approaching monsters by attacking with her staff. Instead, she decides to back away somewhat and let her comrades deal with the beasts up close and personal.

As she does so, however, she gets a mischievous grin on her face and, turning to the tavern owner, says, "Just so you know, things are about start breaking..."

Tetsuko's eyes suddenly begin to glow a pale silver and one of the mugs on a nearby table lifts off into the air, then hurtles at one of the zombies' head.

OOC

Stepping back a bit, then manifesting Far Hand to pick up a mug - the heaviest one I can find and still pick up - and launch it at a zombie.